Meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in Defence Ministers Session held in Brussels on Thursday, 14 June 2007

Defence Ministers of the member countries of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) met in Brussels today.

The Defence Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia participated for the first time, following the decisions of the Riga Summit in 2006, and were warmly welcomed into the EAPC community.

Ministers concentrated on Partners’ participation in and contribution to NATO-led operations, which clearly demonstrate the political and operational value of NATO’s partnerships, and the willingness of Partners to share the challenges of operational commitments.

Ministers exchanged views on the developments in these areas where NATO-led operations are taking place, including in the Balkans and Afghanistan.

Ministers discussed NATO's cooperation with Partners to help them to undertake current and future rôles in NATO-led operations. They underlined that this successful and efficient cooperation should continue, using and developing the existing Partnership tools to the fullest extent. In that context, Ministers welcomed the recently agreed framework for Partner involvement in the NATO Response Force (NRF).

Ministers reiterated the importance of the PfP Planning and Review Process and the Operational Capabilities Concept in assisting Partners to develop operational effectiveness and interoperability with Allies. Defence Ministers of the Allies and participating Partners approved the Planning and Review Process Ministerial Guidance.

Ministers expressed their support for Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR and welcomed the decisions of a number of Partners to contribute to the Operation. Ministers reiterated the commitment of Allies and Partners to act together in the fight against terrorism.

Ministers stressed the need to continue to work vigorously to ensure that the Partnership is fully adapted to respond to the requirements of the evolving security environment.